One Nighters are more trouble...

[Highlands John]

<rant status="On">
Why is it that one nighters are more trouble than people staying longer, especially wanting early check-ins and late check-outs.
Had a couple staying last night, when they booked they asked me to book them a meal at the local inn for 7, left a phone message during the afternoon to say they wouldn't get here till 7.30, so I phoned the inn and moved their booking to 8pm. They finally got here at 10.30, said they arrived at the inn at 8.30.
Then she says what time is check-out as we got here late.... eh? ...... you don' get a late check-out depending on what time you arrive. Didn't like it when I told her 10.30.
Then I catch him in my fridge in MY kitchen. He's got a doggy bag he wants to store. Tell him to use the fridge in their room. I shut the kitchen door and go back to watching TV , afterwards I notice the kitchen door is open and assume it was DH, but this morning I found their doggy bag in my fridge, which means they've been in MY kitchen again. I was furious.
This morning when they checked out they said they needed to do some internet stuff so asked if they could use the wifi from the car, obviously hankering to stay past check-out. I just said "Yes, you can" and left it at that. She wasn't too pleased with that either. Ha-ha.
Had another one at the weekend, wants early check-in, late check-out, wants to use my micro-wave (got a very stern NO to that), down every 5 minutes wanting this, that and the other. Said to me "How can I watch the England football match, it's not on Scottish TV", how the h**l should I know, I don't even like football. Excuse me while I just pull a sky satellite dish outta my ****
</Rant>

 

[Silverspoon]

THAT pretty much sums up why we do not do one-nighters any more. Funny thing is, when you set a 2-night requirement, people will stay two nights. Of course if they are royal PITAs, sometimes I wish they were only one-nighters.
I a gearing up for the "general public" arriving here during the summer. Most are perfectly fine but the number of entitled, inconsiderate, pushy people definitely increases for a few months. sigh Time to stock up on our supply of wine.....sometimes that is the only way to get through the summer!

 

[TheBeachHouse]

THAT pretty much sums up why we do not do one-nighters any more. Funny thing is, when you set a 2-night requirement, people will stay two nights. Of course if they are royal PITAs, sometimes I wish they were only one-nighters.
I a gearing up for the "general public" arriving here during the summer. Most are perfectly fine but the number of entitled, inconsiderate, pushy people definitely increases for a few months. sigh Time to stock up on our supply of wine.....sometimes that is the only way to get through the summer!.

THAT pretty much sums up why we do not do one-nighters any more. Funny thing is, when you set a 2-night requirement, people will stay two nights. Of course if they are royal PITAs, sometimes I wish they were only one-nighters.
I a gearing up for the "general public" arriving here during the summer. Most are perfectly fine but the number of entitled, inconsiderate, pushy people definitely increases for a few months. sigh Time to stock up on our supply of wine.....sometimes that is the only way to get through the summer!

In that case, I guess we'll do just fine.

 

[Generic]

I have the same problem with the central air in the room. They take a chair and manually move the fins that have a sign that says not to. I'm thinking of changing the signs to "Touch the A/C, $500! Ask for help, free."
We put a specific charge for early-check-in and late-check-out. Since then the number of requests has dropped significantly. And when they do, then ask for payment. And the request.... goes away!

 

[happykeeper]

We have found that some one night stays are more challenging because guests are trying to do it all, including enjoying our house and hospitality, in a condensed time period. So the six questions they have, which might be spaced out over a two or three night stay, get jammed into the 20 hours they are with you.
Our solution has been to use a discount structure that gives a discount to longer stays. Single night stays pay full rack. That has been enough to keep us from feeling put out by the extra effort a single night stay might require.
In fact, we are getting ready to raise the rack rate 11% while increasing the discount we offer by about 5%. This will give us an effective rate increase of 5% with a more generous discount, while pushing single night rate into a category that will encourage guests to choose a longer stay.

 

[April]

let me help you with that (haha)

 

[April]

I have the same problem with the central air in the room. They take a chair and manually move the fins that have a sign that says not to. I'm thinking of changing the signs to "Touch the A/C, $500! Ask for help, free."
We put a specific charge for early-check-in and late-check-out. Since then the number of requests has dropped significantly. And when they do, then ask for payment. And the request.... goes away!.

Have same experience- when you tell them its extra $ - they usually make other plans

 

[April]

I have the same problem with the central air in the room. They take a chair and manually move the fins that have a sign that says not to. I'm thinking of changing the signs to "Touch the A/C, $500! Ask for help, free."
We put a specific charge for early-check-in and late-check-out. Since then the number of requests has dropped significantly. And when they do, then ask for payment. And the request.... goes away!.

Have same experience- when you tell them its extra $ - they usually make other plans

 

[Highlands John]

We have found that some one night stays are more challenging because guests are trying to do it all, including enjoying our house and hospitality, in a condensed time period. So the six questions they have, which might be spaced out over a two or three night stay, get jammed into the 20 hours they are with you.
Our solution has been to use a discount structure that gives a discount to longer stays. Single night stays pay full rack. That has been enough to keep us from feeling put out by the extra effort a single night stay might require.
In fact, we are getting ready to raise the rack rate 11% while increasing the discount we offer by about 5%. This will give us an effective rate increase of 5% with a more generous discount, while pushing single night rate into a category that will encourage guests to choose a longer stay..

Yes, that's definitely something I will consider for next year.

 

[JBloggs]

a one nighter will always be a one nighter. You can't entice someone to change their whole itinerary (of which we are just a small portion) to save another $10 or something. It won't happen.

 

[Silverspoon]

a one nighter will always be a one nighter. You can't entice someone to change their whole itinerary (of which we are just a small portion) to save another $10 or something. It won't happen..

I guess our attitudes toward one-nighters depends on whether our B+B is a stop between places on a road trip or an end-of-the-line destination. Folks who stay here are not on their way to any place else...the end of the earth is either out the front door or 30 minutes away...take your pick. Since our area is considered a destination, we accept the seasonal nature but can require longer stays....there is limited amount of lodging in the area and even fewer really nice places. But, if we were in an area where folks are traveling through, or are just off a plane and need one night, we certainly would be grateful for the business. Perhaps the wanna be innkeepers lurking out there should take note and make sure that their location fits their willingness to turn over a room every night.

 

[JBloggs]

a one nighter will always be a one nighter. You can't entice someone to change their whole itinerary (of which we are just a small portion) to save another $10 or something. It won't happen..

I guess our attitudes toward one-nighters depends on whether our B+B is a stop between places on a road trip or an end-of-the-line destination. Folks who stay here are not on their way to any place else...the end of the earth is either out the front door or 30 minutes away...take your pick. Since our area is considered a destination, we accept the seasonal nature but can require longer stays....there is limited amount of lodging in the area and even fewer really nice places. But, if we were in an area where folks are traveling through, or are just off a plane and need one night, we certainly would be grateful for the business. Perhaps the wanna be innkeepers lurking out there should take note and make sure that their location fits their willingness to turn over a room every night.
.

I guess our attitudes toward one-nighters depends on whether our B+B is a stop between places on a road trip or an end-of-the-line destination. Folks who stay here are not on their way to any place else...the end of the earth is either out the front door or 30 minutes away...take your pick. Since our area is considered a destination, we accept the seasonal nature but can require longer stays....there is limited amount of lodging in the area and even fewer really nice places. But, if we were in an area where folks are traveling through, or are just off a plane and need one night, we certainly would be grateful for the business. Perhaps the wanna be innkeepers lurking out there should take note and make sure that their location fits their willingness to turn over a room every night.

YES!
That is totally it. Now that our great music venue is open and three blocks walk, guess what? Yes, one nighters. Do people stay more than one night for a show? Not really, not most people unless it was quite the trek to get here like our guests from the UK here for a show.
To someone who comes to the forum and doesn't get it, that one nighter thing seems like we are greedy and ungrateful. It is not the case. But, as we say, when we do get PITAS we are thankful for that flash in the pan guest who "stays pays and goes away"
If you consider 25 one nighters grouped together, say 3 or 4 rooms turned over constantly day to day to day you will see the extra energy, manpower, time and expense for one nighters. It is not easy to explain until you have to do it. You are here, all the time, going to the store requires an act of congress. Laundry never ends, people checking in, showing early, the entire dance of one nighters is exhausting.
But hey I just got back from vacation, bring it!

 

[gillumhouse]

a one nighter will always be a one nighter. You can't entice someone to change their whole itinerary (of which we are just a small portion) to save another $10 or something. It won't happen..

I guess our attitudes toward one-nighters depends on whether our B+B is a stop between places on a road trip or an end-of-the-line destination. Folks who stay here are not on their way to any place else...the end of the earth is either out the front door or 30 minutes away...take your pick. Since our area is considered a destination, we accept the seasonal nature but can require longer stays....there is limited amount of lodging in the area and even fewer really nice places. But, if we were in an area where folks are traveling through, or are just off a plane and need one night, we certainly would be grateful for the business. Perhaps the wanna be innkeepers lurking out there should take note and make sure that their location fits their willingness to turn over a room every night.
.

I guess our attitudes toward one-nighters depends on whether our B+B is a stop between places on a road trip or an end-of-the-line destination. Folks who stay here are not on their way to any place else...the end of the earth is either out the front door or 30 minutes away...take your pick. Since our area is considered a destination, we accept the seasonal nature but can require longer stays....there is limited amount of lodging in the area and even fewer really nice places. But, if we were in an area where folks are traveling through, or are just off a plane and need one night, we certainly would be grateful for the business. Perhaps the wanna be innkeepers lurking out there should take note and make sure that their location fits their willingness to turn over a room every night.

YES!
That is totally it. Now that our great music venue is open and three blocks walk, guess what? Yes, one nighters. Do people stay more than one night for a show? Not really, not most people unless it was quite the trek to get here like our guests from the UK here for a show.
To someone who comes to the forum and doesn't get it, that one nighter thing seems like we are greedy and ungrateful. It is not the case. But, as we say, when we do get PITAS we are thankful for that flash in the pan guest who "stays pays and goes away"
If you consider 25 one nighters grouped together, say 3 or 4 rooms turned over constantly day to day to day you will see the extra energy, manpower, time and expense for one nighters. It is not easy to explain until you have to do it. You are here, all the time, going to the store requires an act of congress. Laundry never ends, people checking in, showing early, the entire dance of one nighters is exhausting.
But hey I just got back from vacation, bring it!
.

This week with all my room changes, we had a major water system problem and the city was on conserve water alert until the leak was found & fixed - the water from the leak was going into the creek. found & fixed but I had laundry backed up and was running out of sheets & towels.

 

[Copperhead]

As another poster said, these people just want to make the most of the short time they have. I have even had them say just that to me at check out.
The summer is our slow season and more one nighters than other times. When they ask for an early check in and I say I'm sorry, some will just say 'ok, we'll just relax by the pool, or have a picnic in the gardens.'
Just when do they think we take care of the pool or gardens, oh yeah it's that fairy that handles it while here cleaning the house and rooms! And we just sit here drinking our Mimosas.

But I am thankful for my one nighters because without them I may as well close up especially in the summer.

 

[gillumhouse]

As another poster said, these people just want to make the most of the short time they have. I have even had them say just that to me at check out.
The summer is our slow season and more one nighters than other times. When they ask for an early check in and I say I'm sorry, some will just say 'ok, we'll just relax by the pool, or have a picnic in the gardens.'
Just when do they think we take care of the pool or gardens, oh yeah it's that fairy that handles it while here cleaning the house and rooms! And we just sit here drinking our Mimosas.

But I am thankful for my one nighters because without them I may as well close up especially in the summer..

Same gratitude here in Winter. Another PLUS for one-nighters is that when you get omeone you just cannot "warm up to" they are quickly gone rather than you having to fake the friendly smile for longer.

 

[An Old Tavernkeeper]

a one nighter will always be a one nighter. You can't entice someone to change their whole itinerary (of which we are just a small portion) to save another $10 or something. It won't happen..

I guess our attitudes toward one-nighters depends on whether our B+B is a stop between places on a road trip or an end-of-the-line destination. Folks who stay here are not on their way to any place else...the end of the earth is either out the front door or 30 minutes away...take your pick. Since our area is considered a destination, we accept the seasonal nature but can require longer stays....there is limited amount of lodging in the area and even fewer really nice places. But, if we were in an area where folks are traveling through, or are just off a plane and need one night, we certainly would be grateful for the business. Perhaps the wanna be innkeepers lurking out there should take note and make sure that their location fits their willingness to turn over a room every night.
.

I guess our attitudes toward one-nighters depends on whether our B+B is a stop between places on a road trip or an end-of-the-line destination. Folks who stay here are not on their way to any place else...the end of the earth is either out the front door or 30 minutes away...take your pick. Since our area is considered a destination, we accept the seasonal nature but can require longer stays....there is limited amount of lodging in the area and even fewer really nice places. But, if we were in an area where folks are traveling through, or are just off a plane and need one night, we certainly would be grateful for the business. Perhaps the wanna be innkeepers lurking out there should take note and make sure that their location fits their willingness to turn over a room every night.

YES!
That is totally it. Now that our great music venue is open and three blocks walk, guess what? Yes, one nighters. Do people stay more than one night for a show? Not really, not most people unless it was quite the trek to get here like our guests from the UK here for a show.
To someone who comes to the forum and doesn't get it, that one nighter thing seems like we are greedy and ungrateful. It is not the case. But, as we say, when we do get PITAS we are thankful for that flash in the pan guest who "stays pays and goes away"
If you consider 25 one nighters grouped together, say 3 or 4 rooms turned over constantly day to day to day you will see the extra energy, manpower, time and expense for one nighters. It is not easy to explain until you have to do it. You are here, all the time, going to the store requires an act of congress. Laundry never ends, people checking in, showing early, the entire dance of one nighters is exhausting.
But hey I just got back from vacation, bring it!
.

NO and YES
We have strived to get to the point that we can take one nighters when WE want to, because we used to have to.
Now our rules
-two nights on weekends always required.
-two nights weekdays mid and peak season (except return guests who are always welcome to book one night weekdays)
-one night stays off season are welcome weekdays and weekends can be booked off season by return guests and by those booking two or more rooms.
And as we get older hopefully we tighten that down even more. But how did we do it? By welcoming the guests for one night stays for our first ten years here.
To me the whole thing comes down to your need and desire for income. So just remember, whether just one night or many more....
if they are giving YOU money instead of handing it to the duplo box or the econo box in your area, then
SMILE!

 

[Generic]

a one nighter will always be a one nighter. You can't entice someone to change their whole itinerary (of which we are just a small portion) to save another $10 or something. It won't happen..

I guess our attitudes toward one-nighters depends on whether our B+B is a stop between places on a road trip or an end-of-the-line destination. Folks who stay here are not on their way to any place else...the end of the earth is either out the front door or 30 minutes away...take your pick. Since our area is considered a destination, we accept the seasonal nature but can require longer stays....there is limited amount of lodging in the area and even fewer really nice places. But, if we were in an area where folks are traveling through, or are just off a plane and need one night, we certainly would be grateful for the business. Perhaps the wanna be innkeepers lurking out there should take note and make sure that their location fits their willingness to turn over a room every night.
.

I guess our attitudes toward one-nighters depends on whether our B+B is a stop between places on a road trip or an end-of-the-line destination. Folks who stay here are not on their way to any place else...the end of the earth is either out the front door or 30 minutes away...take your pick. Since our area is considered a destination, we accept the seasonal nature but can require longer stays....there is limited amount of lodging in the area and even fewer really nice places. But, if we were in an area where folks are traveling through, or are just off a plane and need one night, we certainly would be grateful for the business. Perhaps the wanna be innkeepers lurking out there should take note and make sure that their location fits their willingness to turn over a room every night.

YES!
That is totally it. Now that our great music venue is open and three blocks walk, guess what? Yes, one nighters. Do people stay more than one night for a show? Not really, not most people unless it was quite the trek to get here like our guests from the UK here for a show.
To someone who comes to the forum and doesn't get it, that one nighter thing seems like we are greedy and ungrateful. It is not the case. But, as we say, when we do get PITAS we are thankful for that flash in the pan guest who "stays pays and goes away"
If you consider 25 one nighters grouped together, say 3 or 4 rooms turned over constantly day to day to day you will see the extra energy, manpower, time and expense for one nighters. It is not easy to explain until you have to do it. You are here, all the time, going to the store requires an act of congress. Laundry never ends, people checking in, showing early, the entire dance of one nighters is exhausting.
But hey I just got back from vacation, bring it!
.

NO and YES
We have strived to get to the point that we can take one nighters when WE want to, because we used to have to.
Now our rules
-two nights on weekends always required.
-two nights weekdays mid and peak season (except return guests who are always welcome to book one night weekdays)
-one night stays off season are welcome weekdays and weekends can be booked off season by return guests and by those booking two or more rooms.
And as we get older hopefully we tighten that down even more. But how did we do it? By welcoming the guests for one night stays for our first ten years here.
To me the whole thing comes down to your need and desire for income. So just remember, whether just one night or many more....
if they are giving YOU money instead of handing it to the duplo box or the econo box in your area, then
SMILE!
.

We only open single nights a few days in advance unless the abut another reservation. So if we have a Friday/Saturday, we will up Thursday and Sunday, but Wednesday and Monday still have 2 night minimums.

 

[JBloggs]

a one nighter will always be a one nighter. You can't entice someone to change their whole itinerary (of which we are just a small portion) to save another $10 or something. It won't happen..

I guess our attitudes toward one-nighters depends on whether our B+B is a stop between places on a road trip or an end-of-the-line destination. Folks who stay here are not on their way to any place else...the end of the earth is either out the front door or 30 minutes away...take your pick. Since our area is considered a destination, we accept the seasonal nature but can require longer stays....there is limited amount of lodging in the area and even fewer really nice places. But, if we were in an area where folks are traveling through, or are just off a plane and need one night, we certainly would be grateful for the business. Perhaps the wanna be innkeepers lurking out there should take note and make sure that their location fits their willingness to turn over a room every night.
.

I guess our attitudes toward one-nighters depends on whether our B+B is a stop between places on a road trip or an end-of-the-line destination. Folks who stay here are not on their way to any place else...the end of the earth is either out the front door or 30 minutes away...take your pick. Since our area is considered a destination, we accept the seasonal nature but can require longer stays....there is limited amount of lodging in the area and even fewer really nice places. But, if we were in an area where folks are traveling through, or are just off a plane and need one night, we certainly would be grateful for the business. Perhaps the wanna be innkeepers lurking out there should take note and make sure that their location fits their willingness to turn over a room every night.

YES!
That is totally it. Now that our great music venue is open and three blocks walk, guess what? Yes, one nighters. Do people stay more than one night for a show? Not really, not most people unless it was quite the trek to get here like our guests from the UK here for a show.
To someone who comes to the forum and doesn't get it, that one nighter thing seems like we are greedy and ungrateful. It is not the case. But, as we say, when we do get PITAS we are thankful for that flash in the pan guest who "stays pays and goes away"
If you consider 25 one nighters grouped together, say 3 or 4 rooms turned over constantly day to day to day you will see the extra energy, manpower, time and expense for one nighters. It is not easy to explain until you have to do it. You are here, all the time, going to the store requires an act of congress. Laundry never ends, people checking in, showing early, the entire dance of one nighters is exhausting.
But hey I just got back from vacation, bring it!
.

NO and YES
We have strived to get to the point that we can take one nighters when WE want to, because we used to have to.
Now our rules
-two nights on weekends always required.
-two nights weekdays mid and peak season (except return guests who are always welcome to book one night weekdays)
-one night stays off season are welcome weekdays and weekends can be booked off season by return guests and by those booking two or more rooms.
And as we get older hopefully we tighten that down even more. But how did we do it? By welcoming the guests for one night stays for our first ten years here.
To me the whole thing comes down to your need and desire for income. So just remember, whether just one night or many more....
if they are giving YOU money instead of handing it to the duplo box or the econo box in your area, then
SMILE!
.

NO and YES
We have strived to get to the point that we can take one nighters when WE want to, because we used to have to.
Now our rules
-two nights on weekends always required.
-two nights weekdays mid and peak season (except return guests who are always welcome to book one night weekdays)
-one night stays off season are welcome weekdays and weekends can be booked off season by return guests and by those booking two or more rooms.
And as we get older hopefully we tighten that down even more. But how did we do it? By welcoming the guests for one night stays for our first ten years here.
To me the whole thing comes down to your need and desire for income. So just remember, whether just one night or many more....
if they are giving YOU money instead of handing it to the duplo box or the econo box in your area, then
SMILE!

Agreed. Hand me money. That is a good thing.
I was thinking about this as this gal is begging to stay one night on the 4th of july. I finally bent and said it is okay (as we are not full) and it would be a self check in. As it is a federal and family holiday in this great country of ours.
So she has since emailed 10 times asking for more info. Our town independence celebration is always on the 3rd. they are not here. our big fireworks over the water at the lake is always the Saturday (which is the 5th) they are not here, and there are plenty of others - not in this area though.
I had to go into research mode for 30 minutes to find this info
yeah one nighters are grand, mm hm. I thought they may be coming to visit friends or rels. Nope. Us.
Admittedly we are not always full over the 4th of july holiday weekend, whenever it falls. One of those oddities where people stay home and grill outside and set houses on fire in their own neighborhoods moreso than going out of town. I feel. I am not sure, but my experience seems to lead to this.
PS Glad you changed your USER ID so you can share more good stuff with us Tav.

 

[jmj]

Based on all of your thoughts, we want to have a minimum night stay. We were thinking three nights. We are a destination, yet a bit off the main tourist trap. If people came, this is where they wanted to be. Good point about wanted people to go away, but you have locked them into a certain number of nights.

 

[Tom]

Yep, more trouble, but they butter the bread. When DW complains I say let's set all year to 3 night minimum and I'll just sleep in because I'll practically never have to serve breakfast anymore.